Japan has ordered its first Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system aircraft, through a foreign military sale valued at $151 million.

Announced on 12 November, the order for Japan will fit into the US Navy’s 25-aircraft, $3.6 billion multi-year contract for the E-2D that was signed in June 2014. The Japanese deal is contracted by the US Naval Air Systems Command, and is due to be complete by 2018.

In June, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the approved potential sale of four E-2Ds under a $1.7 billion deal, but Japan only allocated funding for one of the type in its January defence budget announcement.